Depression Support Group

Tell me about the VNS. Does it work for Bipolar too?

do you mind if I ask how much it cost? Is it long term? how long did it take to "kick" in?

Hey I'm definately interested. I've had depression for 6 years, tried 7 medications and have had no success. I don't know much about it though so any information would be great. Does it cost a lot?

Cyberonics, the people that make the VNS are at http://www.cyberonics.com/

It is for people they now call Drug Resistant Depression (Dysthimia). The principle behind it is that they implant a pacemaker like device that has two wires attached to you left vagus nerve. About every 5 minutes, it seens an electrical pulse to the vagus nerve for about 30 seconds. In theory it increases the Serotonin and Norepinephrine in your brain, which is what the SSRI's and SSNRI's are trying to keep in the synaptic clefts in the nerves in your brain.

Can't speak about bipolar use, check the web site.

Cost. Well, I fought with Blue Cross Blue Shield (Cyberonics helped) for over a year and they would not pay for it. Cyberonics advised if I could get on CIGNA (which I could at work) they could get it done in 6 weeks. I changed at the end of the year and had the implant.

The implant itself is about $14,000, the surgery cost is about $20,000. It is out patient surgery.

You could probably check with Cyberonics and they could tell you if your insurance covers it or not. There have been some changes in the last 6 weeks that will keep more nsurance companies from paying for ot because of our corporate socialized medicine.

After it is implanted, they will turn it on in about 2 or 4 weeks at at a very low setting and gradual raise it about once a month. It takes about 3 months to get it to the optimum setting. The studies show that it takes 6 months to a year to get full effective use. MIne starting working well at about 4 months. I have had it almost a year.

There is a VNS section on this board somewhere, go back to your post and clickon VNS. Homever, most of the post are for DR epileptics, whish is what it was invented for.

It qualify for a VNS you have to have failed at least 5 different meds and have had chronic depression with no breaks for 5 to 10 years. IF you have also had little effect with ECT you will qualify.

Unfortunately, it is going to be real hard to get an insurance company to pay for it. Contact Cyberonics, they may possible be able to get you in a study.